POLYCARBONATE AND VACUUM

[terrye]

IVE BEEN RUNNING A PRT 96 FOR ABOUT 9 MOS. I REALLY APPRECIATE THE FORUM AND ALL THE INFORMATION.
WE HAVE BEEN RUNNING POLYCARBONATE AND ACRYLIC
EXCLUSIVELY.ACTUALLY NO WOOD PRODUCTS TO DATE.
ALL MATERIAL HOLD DOWN HAS BEEN MECHANICAL,BUT
VOLUME KEEPS CLIMBING. WOULD A VACUMM PLENUM BE
ABLE TO KEEP .500 TO.1.00 POLYCARBONATE STABLE,
W/O SACRIFICING CUT TIMES AND QUALITY.
THANKS IN ADVANCE.
TERRY

[steve4460]

How come your speacking so loud ?.

Yes , that would work depending on the size of pices and or the power of the vacumm pump etc. Do a search on the vacumm pumps here and you will find all kinds of good info .

Bot on

[terrye]

Ear plugs were still in. We run full sheets 48 x 96 and yeild 10-25 parts per sheet.Lots of depth
cutting,holes and radii.
Just wondering if the standard 4 zone plenum,w/2 feins would do the trick.
I have to leave the masking intact both sides.
Terry

[steve4460]

Hi Terry

Check out this .
http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/27/5738.html?1160267248
I have a 6.5 hp shopvac hooked up to the 4 zone table , and I am cutting plywood cabinet parts with it . It works for me but I don't cutt any small parts . it all depends on the size of your parts .

[scott_smith]

The vacuum table holds sheets of Polycarb and acrylic like crazy. I think you'll like it.

[terrye]

Thanks guys,I know I needed one for the thinner
stuff,just wondering about the thicker.Lots of good info one here on how to make one.Screws sure are alot quieter,but time is money.
thanks

[ger_d]

Terry, I can't think of a more perfect material to be held by vacuum. Except that your surface is *slippery*(?) and you may have to have some friction gasketing.